Former AC Milan midfielder Alberico Evani has urged the club to accelerate its search for new leadership, publicly expressing support for the potential appointment of Ralf Rangnick as technical director. The comments come amid a period of significant upheaval at the Rossoneri, with the club currently operating without an administrator, technical director, sporting director, or head coach.
Evani, who won twelve trophies with Milan during the 1980s and early 1990s, believes the situation is “anomalous” and suggests the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season was a pivotal moment. According to Evani, the decision to overhaul the management structure was directly influenced by the result of the match against Cagliari, a game Milan needed to win to secure Champions League football.
While acknowledging he lacks detailed knowledge of internal issues, Evani stated that a different outcome in that match could have prevented the current state of affairs. He expressed concern over the lack of immediate replacements following the dismissals, interpreting this as further evidence of the Cagliari match’s impact.
Rangnick, currently with the Austrian national team, has been identified as a leading candidate for the technical director position. Evani praised Rangnick as a man with “clear ideas and principles,” but voiced reservations regarding the timing of a potential appointment, given Rangnick’s commitments at the World Cup. He acknowledged that Rangnick’s arrival, even with trusted collaborators, would be delayed by his international duties.
Evani also highlighted the potential synergy between Rangnick and Oliver Glasner, the former Red Bull Salzburg manager, suggesting their shared tactical philosophies and previous working relationship could be beneficial. He noted Glasner’s success at Crystal Palace, where he won three trophies, and believes pairing the two would be a “positive” step for the club.
The interview also touched upon the future of Rafael Leão, with Evani acknowledging the player’s recent public statements expressing a desire to leave Milan. He suggested that while Leão’s frustration is understandable, it is unusual for a player to openly discuss leaving a club of Milan’s stature, but conceded the club may need to consider offers if Leão is determined to move on.
